{"product_id":"f-villers-distillerie-de-l-etoile-vintage-advertising-poster-1912","title":"F. Villers Distillerie de l’Etoile Vintage Advertising Poster, 1912","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eF. Villers Hasselt, Distillerie de l’Etoile (1912–1914)\u003c\/em\u003e, created by the lithographic firm Oscar de Rycker \u0026amp; Mendel in 1912, turns a distillery advertisement into a compact piece of celestial theatre. A smiling yellow sun blazes against a nearly black ground, accompanied by red stars and a jaunty green figure presenting a bottle. The palette is economical but emphatic: yellow, green and scarlet appear with unusual intensity against the darkness, while the strongly frontal arrangement gives each element the clarity of an emblem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe imagery makes a playful connection with the name \u003cem\u003eDistillerie de l’Etoile\u003c\/em\u003e—the Star Distillery—transforming the company’s identity into a memorable cast of sun, stars and character. Hasselt, in Belgian Limburg, has a long association with jenever and distilling, so the poster belongs to a recognisable local commercial culture as well as to the wider expansion of illustrated advertising in the early twentieth century. Produced on the eve of the First World War, it reflects an era in which businesses increasingly relied upon bold printed graphics to communicate confidence, distinctiveness and modernity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA closer look\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe great yellow face occupies the upper centre, its broad smile and animated eyes modelled with subtle tonal shading. Although the surrounding space is largely empty, the dark field does not feel static: small red stars punctuate it like sparks, directing attention around the central motif. At the upper right, one larger red star bears the word “Hasselt”, binding the celestial theme directly to the place of production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBelow, the green figure introduces movement and comic energy. One hand rests at the hip while the other displays the bottle, creating a diagonal gesture that links the advertised drink to the radiant face above. The figure’s rounded silhouette and lightly shaded costume contrast with the sharp points of the stars. Close inspection also reveals the comparatively intricate bottle label, a small area of decorative detail set within the poster’s otherwise broad, simplified forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe lower section is anchored by the wording “F. Villers Hasselt Distillerie de l’Etoile”. Its clear, substantial lettering performs a different role from the lively illustration: after the eye has been caught by the characters and saturated colour, the typography supplies the company name with directness. This progression—from spectacle to brand—is carefully controlled, and the restricted palette keeps the composition legible despite its theatrical humour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eContext and significance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLithography was especially well suited to commercial designs of this kind, permitting crisp lettering, emphatic contours and strongly separated areas of colour. Oscar de Rycker \u0026amp; Mendel use those qualities not for cartographic or technical description, but for immediate visual recognition. Rather than illustrating the distillery itself, the poster builds a self-contained identity around its name: the star becomes both decorative motif and advertising device.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat remains particularly engaging is the balance between practical communication and fantasy. The bottle and company wording are unmistakably promotional, yet the smiling sun, red constellation and spirited green figure create a miniature world with its own graphic logic. It is an unusually characterful record of Hasselt’s distilling culture and of the wit that early twentieth-century commercial artists could bring to an everyday advertisement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChoosing the right size and finish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArtwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, \u003ca href=\"\/it\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop for advice\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. \u003ca href=\"\/it\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee examples of personalised artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/it\/pages\/sepia-aged-maps\"\u003eSee examples of our Aged artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFramed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSelected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/it\/pages\/custom-framing\"\u003especialist framing\u003c\/a\u003e are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/it\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003econtact our workshop\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67632415277447,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67632415310215,"sku":null,"price":116.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":67632415342983,"sku":null,"price":135.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Art print","offer_id":67632415375751,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":67632415408519,"sku":null,"price":116.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Framed 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